WO1996041547A1

WO1996041547A1 - Footwear with a releasable pin for use in gliding sports

Info

Publication number: WO1996041547A1
Application number: PCT/FR1996/000859
Authority: WO
Inventors: Luigi Simonetti; Alessandro Condini
Original assignee: Skis Rossignol S.A.
Priority date: 1995-06-08
Filing date: 1996-06-07
Publication date: 1996-12-27
Also published as: FR2734993B1; US6065769A; FR2734993A1; US6168184B1

Abstract

Sports footwear for use with a gliding element, comprising a sole (1) with a recess (2) defined by two substantially vertical walls (3, 4) extending downwards relative to the shoe, a pin (5) being provided across said recess for engaging means for attaching the footwear to the gliding element, comprising a rigid part (6) embedded in the sole and provided with two projections (8, 9) extending through said walls (3, 4) for releasably holding said pin (5). The projections and the ends of the pin have means enabling said pin to be detached.

Description

FOOTWEAR FOR THE PRACTICE OF SLIDING SPORTS WITH A REMOVABLE AXIS.

Technical area

The invention relates to the field of shoes intended for the practice of sliding sports such as cross-country skiing, ice or roller skating, snowboarding, etc. It relates more particularly to shoes ^' having to cooperate with the 'sliding member proper by means of a metal pin located under the sole of the shoe. More specifically, it takes advantage of the method of fixing this axis to the shoe. In the following description, we will focus more particularly on the application of the invention to cross-country skiing but it will be borne in mind that the transposition to other sports such as skating or surfing is obvious for the skilled person.

Prior art

As is known, a cross-country ski boot consists of a rod intended to cover the foot and a sole in connection with the binding and / or the upper face of the ski.

The sole has, near the front end, a transverse axis intended to be hooked by the integral attachment of the ski. Increasingly popular, high-performance shoes have one or more longitudinal grooves under the sole. These grooves cooperate with complementary ribs located on the ski or more generally on the binding. Generally, the main groove is deeper at the front of the sole to allow the housing of the fixing axis. This connects the two vertical sides of the groove. In known manner, this axis extends deep inside the sole to achieve effective anchoring. Indeed, during the impulses and the flight phase of the ski, the axis supports significant constraints and it must be strongly connected to the sole to avoid its tearing.

To improve the anchoring, it has been proposed to connect the extensions of the ^" axis with a metal plate" embedded in the material of the sole during its manufacture by molding, in the direction of

10 the back of the shoe-

Obviously, the molding of the sole requires special precautions and special tools allowing the sole to be molded by encompassing the two ends of the axis.

, c transverse, while leaving it apparent. Unfortunately, these specific procedures, although compatible with the molding of the sole directly on the upper, require so-called "drawer" molds which are very expensive, given the undercut formed by the transverse axis. The soles obtained independently are therefore then

2 _Q glued under the rod. It follows that the cost price of such a shoe remains high because of the use of sophisticated molding machines and the necessary labor operations.

The same drawbacks inherent in the molding of the sole 25 are observed, for example, on surf shoes or on skates.

Statement of the invention

The objective of the invention is to provide an architecture of the zone of the shoe carrying the metal axis allowing easy 3- _Q molding while avoiding special tools, while retaining a significant anchoring capacity.

^ SQUARE ENTRY FULLY (RULE 26) Thus, the shoe according to the invention is of the type comprising a sole, the lower zone of which has a clearance, delimited by two substantially vertical walls oriented towards the bottom of the shoe, said clearance being crossed by an axis intended to cooperate with means of attachment to the sliding member, and comprising a rigid part embedded in the sole and having two extensions extending in said walls intended to receive said axis.

This shoe is characterized in that the extensions and the axis have means intended to make this axis removable.

In other words, the metal axis is removable and it is secured to the shoe, for example by screwing onto a part embedded inside the sole. This embedded part constitutes the anchor points of the axis.

The invention therefore consists in using a separate anchor and an axis, the anchor being at least partially embedded during the molding of the sole so that it does not form any undercut.

In this way, the molding tools are simple, which in particular allows the molding of the sole directly on the upper.

In a first embodiment, the rigid embedded part is a U-shaped jumper whose opening is directed towards the metal axis and whose branches form the extensions intended to receive the characteristic axis. In practice, the rear portion of the U-shaped jumper is located in a plane substantially parallel to the plane of the underside of the sole of the shoe, the front ends of this jumper being arranged in a plane also substantially parallel to the plane of the sole, but located below the plane of the rear portion of the rider.

Advantageously, the branches of said rider have a recess, ^" the end of each branch being offset downward relative to the plane of the rider. In this way, the ends of the rider serving as attachment points of the axis are closer from the bottom plane of the sole, while the anchoring part proper is located at the heart of the molded portion of the front of the shoe.

In another embodiment, the embedded metal part is a plate folded into three portions, respectively a first central portion, substantially parallel to the sole of the shoe and two lateral portions, extending in the lateral bearing surfaces, these lateral portions being arranged to receive the transverse axis. This architecture makes it possible to increase the contact surface between the anchoring part and the molded material, which improves the tear resistance of the assembly.

With regard to the attachment of the characteristic axis to the shoe, several embodiments can be envisaged.

Thus, in a first variant, the end of the axis, for example metallic, has a threaded hole into which the threaded rod of a bolt is screwed. In a second variant, the axis has at least one telescopic and retractable end, and the two ends of the axis are able to be housed in the housings provided for this purpose in the extensions of the embedded metal part.

In a third variant, the axis may be integral with two hollow sheaths intended to be inserted under the visible parts of the extensions ^' of the embedded part.

Obviously, multiple geometries and / or axis sections can find an advantage in being used in accordance with the invention. In particular, the axis can be cylindrical but also formed by a blade shaped according to its use.

The arrangements in accordance with the invention prove to be particularly advantageous for the manufacture of boots intended for cross-country skiing, and in which the clearance is located in front of the metatarsophalangeal joint, the extensions then being oriented forward. .

As a corollary, the invention makes it possible to solve the problem of the wear of the front part of the shoe, whose repeated contacts with the binding produce deformations or even ruptures. For this purpose, the front end of the sole corresponding to the wear zone is detachable from the shoe. It has complementary housings lateral extensions of the metal part to allow its insertion, as well as perforations to allow the passage of the transverse axis. In another embodiment, using the anchor points formed by the extensions of the embedded part, the shoe has a wide longitudinal groove on the underside of the sole. In combination, the boot has a band added inside this wide groove, the underside of this band presented having a profile complementary to the ski area and / or the binding on which it rests. Furthermore, the shoe also comprises, towards the rear of said wide groove, means for anchoring the rear of said added strip, the front part of the added strip being anchored by the extensions of the metal part. submerged in combination with the transverse axis.

By this arrangement, it is therefore easy to produce, from a common shoe, various versions intended to be adapted to various fastening profiles. This architecture proves to be particularly advantageous with regard to the different types of grooves and ribs located under the soles of cross-country ski boots.

The arrangements in accordance with the invention may also prove to be advantageous for the production of shoes intended for the practice of snowboarding, in which the clearance is then located at the level of the arch of the foot and in which the extensions of the submerged part are oriented downwards, the axis being arranged along the longitudinal plane of the shoe.

These provisions can also be applied advantageously for the production of shoes intended for ice skating or roller skating in which the sole has arrangements suitable for authorizing the attachment of the support plate of the blade or of the rollers by means of the metal axis and extensions of the embedded part. Brief description of the drawings

The manner of carrying out the invention as well as the advantages which ensue therefrom will emerge clearly from the description of the embodiment which follows, with the support of the appended figures.

FIG. 1 is a summary perspective view of a jumper according to the invention, shown in plan view in FIG. 2 and in side view in FIG. 3.

Figures 4 and 5 are front views of the front clearance of the sole, showing the axis in positions respectively disassembled and mounted relative to the rider.

Figure 6 is a longitudinal section of the sole equipped with the device according to the invention.

Figure 7 is a bottom view of the same sole. Figure 8 is a summary perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the part embedded in the front of the sole.

Figure 9 is an exploded summary perspective view of an embodiment of the invention having removable wearing parts.

FIG. 10 is a summary perspective view of the underside of a sole having a wide groove, capable of receiving the profiled strips shown in FIGS. 11 and 12.

Figures 13 and 14 are cross sections showing the integration of the strips of Figures 11 and 12 inside the sole.

Figures 15 and 16 are summary perspective views illustrating two alternative embodiments concerning the attachment of the axis of the molded part.

Figure 17 is a summary perspective view of a sole of a surf shoe according to the invention.

Figure 18 is a detail view of a submerged part according to the invention in the case of a surf boot. Figure 19 is a side view of an inline roller skate according to the invention.

In the following description, it will be assumed that the shoes described are laid flat, so that the bottom surface of the soles is horizontal.

Ways to realize the invention

As already said, the invention relates to sliding sports shoes and in particular cross-country skiing.

In known manner, a cross-country ski boot mainly consists of a upper and a sole (1) in which the specific arrangements of the invention are more particularly situated.

In known manner, the soles of cross-country ski boots have a clearance (2) located in the front part of the sole, around the median plane, and having an opening towards the front and towards the underside of the sole. The side walls (3,4) of this clearance. (2) are constituted by two substantially vertical portions forming spans of a transverse axis (5).

The originality of the invention lies in the way in which the axis is attached to the sole (1).

Unlike all existing shoes, the shoe according to the invention has an axis which is secured to the sole after molding thereof. To this end, the sole comprises in its front part, a submerged part (6) which constitutes the anchoring points of the axis (5). In the embodiment illustrated in Figures 1 to 6, the embedded part (6) takes the form of a U-shaped jumper. The base (7) of this jumper (6) constitutes a transverse bar which is embedded inside the sole, at the level of the first phalanx of the toes. This bar (7) has a length slightly greater than the width of the clearance (2). The branches (8,9) of the rider (6) are oriented forward, and slightly directed downwards, to prevent the branch (7) of the rider (6) from crossing the central groove of the sole. The ends (11,12) of the branches (8,9) are intended to receive the transverse axis (5). To this end, these ^" ends have holes (13,14), drilled transversely, and facing each other.

In the variant illustrated in Figure 4, the end of the axis has a threaded hole (16) into which the threaded rod (19) of the bolt (18) is screwed.

Of course, it is not going beyond the scope of the invention to use any type of fixing of the axis (5) allowing effective attachment, that is to say for example tapping one of the holes (13, 14) into which the threaded end of the axle (5) would be screwed.

In the variant illustrated in FIG. 15, the axis (60) consists of a hollow body (61) inside which two coaxial tabs (62, 63) can slide. A return member (not shown) of the helical spring type keeps these tabs (62, 63) in the extended position, and then prevents their entry into the body (61). The positioning of the axis (60) between the extensions (22, 23) of the embedded part (20) is obtained by the retraction of the cleats (62, 63) inside the body (61) in annoying the return member (not shown). Then when this axis (60) is positioned exactly between the holes (13, 14) of the part (20), we proceed by releasing the cleats (62, 63) which are received in the holes (13, 14). In another embodiment illustrated in Figure 16, the axis (5) is integral with hollow tubes (65, 66) so as to form a jumper (64). This jumper (64) can be plugged into the extensions (11, 12) of the embedded metal part. This cavaher (64) is secured by means of pins (67) introduced into the holes (68 and 69) respectively of the tube (66) and of the extension (12) of the part embedded inside the sole.

To optimize the anchoring of this rider, the branches (8,9) have a recess so that their ends (11,12) are slightly offset downwards, so that the bar (7) is drowned as deeply as possible inside the sole to prevent it from passing through the central rib.

Furthermore, these ends (11,12) have a thickness less than that of the main bar (7), because they are machined to present planar surfaces, in particular to allow their positioning in the mold.

During the molding of the sole (1), the cavaher (6) is positioned in such a way that the bearing surfaces (3,4) are molded around the ends (11,12) of the cavaher. It is kept inside the sole during molding, by any means known in the field of molding, such as centering pins for example. After molding, it suffices to pierce the walls (3,4) at the level of the holes (13,14) to obtain the passage of the axis (5). The cavaher can also be molded by providing said holes (13,14) with extractable parts which avoid subsequent drilling.

Alternatively, the internal faces opposite the branches (11, 12) may be tangent to the core of the mold which then serves as a centering device. As can be seen, the sole of a shoe according to the invention differs fundamentally from all existing shoes, by the fact that the molding of the sole is carried out without any metal part forming a bridging, which greatly facilitates this operation. by removing the undercuts.

In an alternative embodiment shown in Figure 8, the embedded part. (20) comes from the folding of a sheet into three portions (21,22,23). The central portion (21) is intended to be embedded in the material of the front of the sole. It has holes (25) allowing the distribution of the plastic during molding. The large surface of such a portion (21) allows effective anchoring. This portion (21) has folded lateral extensions (22) and (23), the front ends (26) and (27) of which are slightly offset downwards and have holes (13) and (14) for fixing the 'axis (5).

As seen in Figure 9, the portions (30,31) of the walls (3,4) are advantageously mounted extractably on the ends (11,12) of the jumper (6). This area of the shoe constitutes the main part of wear because it is located at the lower front edge of the sole. It therefore rubs directly on the binding and forms one of the most exposed areas when walking. These extractable portions (30,31) have longitudinal holes (33,34) allowing their insertion on the ends (11,12) of the jumper (6). These portions (30,31) also have a transverse bore (32) allowing the passage of the axis (5) which hangs on the ends (11,12) of the rider and thus ensures the fixing of the wearing parts (30.31). Of course, it is not departing from the scope of the invention by giving these wearing parts any advantageous form which is joined to the visible portions of the jumper (6). In particular, these wearing parts can constitute a single portion.

Of course, the above-mentioned anchoring points can also be used for attaching another part to the sole (1).

As is known, there are two main standards in the field of cross-country skiing defining the structure and architecture of the underside of the sole. In a first standard generally called "NNN", the sole (1) has two longitudinal parallel grooves placed symmetrically around the median plane of the shoe. In another standard called "SNS", the sole has a single wider groove arranged along the longitudinal axis. This or these grooves are intended to cooperate with corresponding rails located on the ski or on the bindings.

The shoe according to the invention makes it possible to adapt by joining a piece of minor size to one of these two standards from a common shoe.

As shown in Figures 10,11,12, this common shoe has a wide groove (40) located along the longitudinal axis of the sole (1). The dimensions of this wide groove (40) allow the reception of a strip (41) having two thin parts (43) and a central rib (42). When this strip (41) is inserted inside the wide groove (40), the lateral slopes of the latter define with the flat portions (43) and the rib (42), two grooves (47) placed symmetrically with respect to to the longitudinal axis of the shoe. Thanks to wings (48) having holes (49), this strip (41) can be inserted at the front in the ends (11,12) of the jumper (6) for hooking the axis (5). The strip has means (not shown) allowing it to hang on the rear end of the sole. The profile thus obtained corresponds to that described above for the "NNN" standard (see FIG. 13).

The profile shown in Figure 12 has a strip (50) having along its longitudinal axis a central groove (52) with dimensions conforming to those of the "SNS" standard. In a similar way to that described above, the introduction of this strip makes it possible to form on the underside of the sole a groove with the dimensions of said standard (see FIG. 14).

The operation of mounting an additional rib described above can be transposed in an obvious way for a skilled tradesman to hang under the sole of a plate having on its underside an ice skate blade or a train of casters.

As already said, the arrangements in accordance with the invention may prove to be advantageous for the production of a sole of surf shoes in which, as illustrated in FIG. 17, a clearance (70) is provided at the level of the arch, between the heel area (71) and the front part (72) of the sole. Thus, inside this housing (70) are arranged substantially at the median level, two bearing surfaces (73, 74) between which is the axis (75) of cooperation with the attachment (not shown). According to the invention, the sole receives a submerged part (76) drawn in dotted lines. This part (76), illustrated in FIG. 18, is constituted by a folded plate whose central part (79), advantageously perforated, is parallel to the horizontal plane of the sole and whose end parts (77, 78) form the extensions extending inside the staves (73, 74). These extensions (77, 78) have holes (80, 81) drilled and intended to receive removably, and according to the different attachment variants described above, the axis (75) of cooperation with the attachment. In this case for the positioning of the axis in the clearance, it may prove advantageous to use an axis with retractable ends, as illustrated in FIG. 15.

As already said, the invention can also be used for the manufacture of footwear intended for skating. Thus, as illustrated in FIG. 19, the shoe (90) comprises at the front a submerged part (not shown) intended to receive the transverse axis (95). This axis (95) allows the temporary attachment of the plate (92) for supporting the rollers.

It follows from the above that the cross-country ski, skating or surfing boots in accordance with the invention have a main advantage which resides in the fact that the molding of the boot takes place in the absence of an apparent axis, which notoriously simplifies molding installations by avoiding drawer devices and this advantageously allows the realization of the sole directly on the upper.

The characteristic use of this embedded part creates solid anchor points, which allows the insertion of wearing parts or particular adaptation parts.

Claims

1 / Sports shoe intended to cooperate with a sliding member, of the type comprising a sole (1) having a clearance (2) delimited by two substantially vertical walls (3,4) oriented towards the bottom of the shoe, said clearance being crossed by an axis (5) intended to cooperate with means for hooking to the sliding member comprising a rigid part embedded (6) in the sole and having two extensions (8, 9) extending in said walls (3 , 4) intended to receive said axis (5) in a removable manner, characterized in that the extensions and the ends of the axis have means intended to make this axis removable.

2 / shoe according to claim 1, characterized in that the rigid embedded part is a cavaher (6) U-shaped whose branches (8,9) form the extensions intended to receive the axis (5).

3 / shoe according to claim 2, characterized in that the rear portion of the U-shaped jumper (6) is located in a plane substantially parallel to the plane (10) of the underside of the sole of the shoe, the front ends of this rider being arranged in a plane also substantially parallel to the plane (10) of the sole, but located below the plane of the rear portion of the cavaher.

4 / shoe according to claim 3, characterized in that the branches (8,9) of said rider have a recess, the front end (11,12) of each branch being offset downward relative to the plane of the rider (6 ). 5 / shoe according to claim 1, characterized in that the rigid embedded part is a plate (20) folded in three portions, respectively a first central portion (21), substantially parallel to the sole of the shoe and two lateral portions (22 , 23), extending in the side walls (3,4), these side portions being arranged to receive the axis (5).

6 / shoe according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the end of the axis (5) comprises a threaded hole (16) into which the threaded rod (19) of a bolt (18) is screwed.

7 / Shoe according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the axis (60) has at least one end (62, 63) telescopic and retractable, and in that the two ends (62, 63) of the axis (60) are able to be housed in housings (13, 14) provided for this purpose in the extensions (22, 23) of the rigid embedded part (20).

8 / A shoe according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the axis (5) is integral with two hollow sleeves (65, 66) intended to be plugged in on visible parts. (11, 12) extensions (8, 9) of the embedded part (6).

9 / Boot according to one of claims 1 to 8, intended for the practice of cross-country skiing, characterized in that the clearance (2) is located in front of the metatarsophalangeal joint and in that the extensions (8, 9) of the embedded part (6) are oriented towards the front. 10 / Cross-country ski boot according to claim 9, characterized in that the front end of the sole corresponding to the wear zone (30,31) is detachable from the boot and has complementary housings (33,34) to the lateral extensions (8,9,11,12) of the embedded rigid part (6) to allow its insertion, as well as perforations (32) to allow the passage of the transverse axis (5).

11 / shoe ^{"cross-country} skiing as claimed in claim 9, wherein:

- in that it comprises a wide longitudinal groove (40) on the underside of the sole (1);

- in that it comprises an added strip (41,51) inside this wide groove (40), the underside of this added strip having a partially complementary profile (42,43,50,52) of the ski and / or binding area on which it rests, in association with the wide groove (40);

- And in that it comprises towards the rear of said wide groove, means for anchoring the rear of said added strip, the anchoring of the front part of the added strip being ensured by the extensions ( 11, 12) of the rigid part embedded in combination with the transverse axis (5).

12 / Shoe according to one of claims 1 to 8, for the practice of snowboarding, characterized in that the clearance (70) is located at the arch of the foot and in that the extensions (77, 78 ) are oriented downwards and aligned on the median longitudinal plane of the shoe. 13 / Shoe according to one of claims 1 to 8, for the practice of skating, characterized in that the sole (91) has arrangements capable of authorizing the attachment of the plate (92) for supporting the blade or castors by means of the metal pin (95) and extensions of the embedded part.